2 Ways Cardinals Can Replace Hunter Dobbins After Injury

What makes this especially difficult is that the Cardinals are trying to limit Kyle Leahy's innings, so they might have to move him to the bullpen. But the Cardinals at least have some depth in the minor leagues.

Down in Triple-A are left-hander Cooper Hjerpe and switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijintje. Perhaps calling one of them up to replace Dobbins could lead to something good. They would at least have somebody they can count on to replace the injured Dobbins.

If they really want to get creative, they could even call up No. 2 prospect Liam Doyle, similarly to how the Toronto Blue Jays called up Trey Yesavage late last year.

Use the waiver wire

The Cardinals may be forced to make some external additions. That's going to be hard since the trade deadline has passed, but often times at the end of August, players are put on waivers and picked up by contending teams.

Unlike the trade deadline, teams don't have to give anything up. All they have to do is claim a player. If teams like the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays continue to slip in the standings, they could potentially put pitchers such as Shane Bieber, Max Scherzer or even Chris Bassitt on waivers, and those are all arms that could help St. Louis out down the stretch.

The Cardinals may not have much of a choice here. They are rebuilding, but they still need to find a way to get through the season, and they have already lost Richard Fitts for the year, so the depth is really being tested.

But it will be interesting to see if the waiver wire is active this August. Perhaps the Cardinals could take advantage of it.